The Advantages ofHarrisburg Academy'sEarly Childhood Program

Preschool, Junior Kindergarten, and Kindergarten

In our Preschool, Junior Kindergarten, and Kindergarten classes, our teachers provide activities that are open-ended and adaptable. Our youngest preschool students are able to explore and discover the joy of learning new things as their personal journeys begin. In addition, Early Childhood is enhanced with physical education, library, music, Spanish, fine arts, and computer instruction. Preschool is offered on both a part-time and full-time basis. Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten are full-day programs. This unique school is not “one size fits all,” it is “one size fits one” – and students benefit because of the personal experience.

Tuition & Before/After Care

Harrisburg Academy is proud to announce the expansion of its early education program — Kindergarten, Junior Kindergarten, and Preschool — to include year-round schedule options and expanded school-day coverage starting in 2018-19. Parents who choose to enroll their children in this program will be providing them with an unparalleled educational experience at a price comparable to the best childcare centers in the area.

In the Classroom

Responsive Classroom

Students start each day with a Morning Meeting in which they circle up, greet one another, share, listen, and learn to ask questions appropriately. We find that what students learn in Morning Meeting transfers to the hallways, the playground, and beyond. Academic choice is an integral part of Responsive Classroom®, where children learn best by making choices about what they’re learning.

Academy Extras - The Arts, Science, Technology, and More

All students in Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten participate in a modified Suzuki strings program as part of our regular curriculum. This method fits well in our school because it supports our philosophy that every child has an innate ability to learn.

Hands-on lab science experiences are designed to motivate and increase student interest and ability, and introduce them to new concepts. We enjoy activities that can be replicated or expanded upon at home, which keeps science exploration well within the reach of each child. In technology, Early Childhood and elementary-aged students are learning to navigate computer programs that increase their skill level and expand on ideas that are being taught in the classroom. Physical education, library, music, computer, fine arts, and Spanish instruction enhance the Academy experience for our youngest learners.

Learning Links

Kindergarten and every Lower School grade is linked to a different continent through our Learning Links global education program in partnership with Dickinson College and others. Teachers develop curriculum based on cross-cultural comparisons and often communicate with contacts in other countries via email.